Ambitious Ghana floating power plant project delayed

Feb 11, 1997 01:00 AM

Ghana's ambitious $ 400 million floating natural gas power plant will become operational by March 1998 and not in the
first half of 1997 as previously scheduled, according to the project manager. "We are behind schedule because of
problems with ministerial approvals," Ben Dagadu of the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) told.
Two barges with three 48 MW gas-fired turbines are being built by Westinghouse of Orlando, Florida. A second phase
would add 120 MW overall and a more efficient 100 MW combined cycle turbine could be added later. The barges will be
moored in a lagoon near the border with Ivory Coast and constantly monitored through a satellite link by
Westinghouse. GNPC Chief Executive Tsatsu Tsikata told the power station would be owned by the Western Power Company
Ltd, established by the GNPC in the United States. Three US-based companies were interested in buying a stake and
management in the company, he said.
The turbines are to be fed natural gas from Ghana's Tano off-shore oil and gas fields on the border with Ivory Coast.
Proven reserve estimates of natural gas are 287 billion cubic feet, of which 193 bncf is recoverable. The lifespan of
the gasfield is 15-20 years, according to Tsikata.
In April 1996, the US Export-Import Bank approved a loan of almost $ 316 mm for the project.